Control it or loose it. You choose.

Medical and psychological research has shown that no matter how much you exercise or eat correctly, you are putting yourself at risk if you do not manage your anger. Anger causes a widespread negative effect on the body.

It is important to understand what happens to the body when one becomes angry. In a moment of anger, you may experience muscle tension, grinding of teeth and teeth clenching, ringing in the ears, flushing, higher blood pressure, chest pains, excessive sweating, chills, severe headaches or migraines.

With chronic anger people can also experience peptic ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, intestinal cramping, hiccups, chronic indigestion, heart attacks, strokes, kidney problems, obesity, and frequent colds. Medical experts have found the heart muscle is affected by anger, and anger can actually reduce the heart's ability to properly pump blood.

The results of prolonged anger can harm the body's largest organ, the skin. People who hold in their anger often have skin diseases such as rashes, hives, warts, eczema and acne. Researchers have studied the relationship of anger and skin disorders and discovered that when a person resolves his anger, skin disorders dramatically improve.

One of the major effects anger has on the body is the release of chemicals and hormones, primarily the adrenaline and non-adrenaline. The adrenaline hormones act on all organs that reach the sympathetic nervous system, stimulating the heart, dilating the coronary vessels, constricting blood vessels in the intestines, and shutting off digestion.

Suppressed anger can also have psychological effects, causing depression, eating disorders, addictions to drug and alcohol, nightmares, insomnia, self-destructive behaviors, and can cause disruptions in the way a person relates to others.

Learn to control anger by using the following techniques:

* Meditation
You hear it all the time -- take a deep breath and count to 10. Meditation can allow you to breathe, relax, reflect on the situation and take a critical look at why you're angry.

* Practice forgiveness
Anger often results in resentments, resentments which can be resolved through forgiveness. You do not necessarily have to forgive the person with whom you are angry in a face-to-face meeting; you can forgive in any way that works for you.

* Anger management
Find a clinic that specializes in anger management and proper ways to release deep anger.

* Therapy
Sometimes our anger is so repressed that counseling is the only way to understand it and learn to release and deal with anger issues.

* Talking
Just talking it through with a friend can often help. Vent your frustrations.

* Creativity
Be creative in releasing your anger. Scream into or pound a pillow, dance, take aerobics, do stretching exercises, tear up old newspapers, throw rocks in a safe place, squeeze a ball of clay, kick a ball or pillow, use a punching bag, or take up a sports activity such as basketball, racquetball, soccer or baseball.

No matter what you choose, it is important to learn safe, effective ways to release your anger. The result of prolonged anger can change how your body functions. Anger is a valid emotion and should not be suppressed, but remember to release it in an appropriate and healthy way.

taken from here